SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549



                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



             Delaware                              13-3585278
- -------------------------------         --------------------------------
    (State of Incorporation)            (IRS Employer Identification No.)

  230 Park Avenue, New York, New York                      10169
- ----------------------------------------              ---------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)



If this Form relates to the  registration  of a class of debt  securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A(c)(1),  please check the
following box: |_|

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become  effective   simultaneously   with  the  effectiveness  of  a  concurrent
registration  statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933  pursuant to General
Instruction A(c)(2), please check the following box: |X|

Securities to be registered  pursuant to Section 12(b) of the  Securities Act of
1934:
         None

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Senior Notes due 2006
- -----------------------------------------------------------
  (Title of Class)

Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006
- -----------------------------------------------------------
  (Title of Class)








                  This Registration  Statement on Form 8-A relates to the Senior
Notes  due 2006 and  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  due  2006  (collectively,  the
"Notes")  of  WinStar  Communications,   Inc.  ("Registrant").   A  Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-6079) ("Registration  Statement") relating to the
Notes was filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("Commission")  on
June 14, 1996.


Item 1.           Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

                  The section of the Prospectus,  dated June 14, 1996,  included
in  the  Registration   Statement,   entitled  "Description  of  the  Notes"  is
incorporated herein by reference.


Item 2.           Exhibits.


  Exhibit No.           Description



       1                Registration  Statement  on Form  S-3,  filed  under the
                        Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on June 14, 1996, is
                        incorporated herein by reference.

       2                The Registrant's Form of Senior Notes Indenture, set
                        forth as Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement, is
                        incorporated herein by reference.

       3                The  Registrant's  Form  of  Senior  Subordinated  Notes
                        Indenture, set forth as Exhibit 4.10 to the Registration
                        Statement, is incorporated herein by reference.







                                    SIGNATURE


                  Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  the  registrant  has  duly  caused  this
Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereto
duly authorized.

                               WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.




Date:    July 12, 1996        By:  /s/ Fredric E. von Stange
                               -------------------------------
                                Fredric E. von Stange
                                Executive Vice President and Director